Don’t avoid risks, but do avoid being reactive. Starting a business is challenging for so many reasons, but perhaps the most difficult reason is giving up something comfortable for something uncertain. When I started BrightEdge 8 years ago, I remember my biggest concern was losing my steady paycheck and flexible work hours once I left my job at Salesforce—at a time when my wife and I were expecting our first child. It was a scary yet exhilarating decision to launch a company with only $5,000 in bootstrapped funds and a few servers from my kitchen table. But looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t allow the fear of taking risks hold me back. If you have a vision for something you’re truly passionate about, the reward will be so much greater than any risk. My team and I saw a void in an industry we loved and knew we could fill it with a long-term solution.

That brings me to my next point: don’t be reactive. Many new companies are too concerned with reacting to a market change or need. Filling a temporary need can be successful in the short-term, but it’s not sustainable. Instead, spend the time and resources needed to build a strong infrastructure. At BrightEdge, we focused on building ironclad technology, carefully hiring the right people (not rushing), and developing a strategic customer and partner base. Every day should be moving you one step closer to your long-term goal–set consistent but aggressive benchmarks for yourself.

Additionally, when hiring, don’t be reactive either. It can be easy in the beginning—particularly if you’re experiencing a lot of growth—to want to fill more seats so you can get more hands on the project. But don’t fall prey to quick-and-dirty hiring practices. Instead of filling numbers, be thoughtful and meticulous. Look for the right experience and, more importantly, the right personality. You can teach a smart person to do (pretty much) anything well—but you can’t teach them the right attitude. To this day, we put each new hire through a lengthy week-long on boarding and training process complete with assessment testing. This saves time and improves their performance in the long-run. And lastly, be willing to work hard. My co-founder Lemuel Park and I work every Saturday–this gives us a chance to think about the big picture and beyond our day-to-day responsibilities. Be prepared to put in the extra effort whenever necessary.

Read all answers to the Leadership Insider question: What advice would you give someone looking to start their own business?

3 things to consider before starting your own business by Sunil Rajaraman, co-founder of Scripted.com.

4 ways to persuade people to join your startup by Nir Polak, CEO and co-founder of Exabeam.

GoDaddy CEO’s 5 tips for aspiring entrepreneurs by Blake Irving, CEO of GoDaddy.